A season after going 62–100, the Reds have gradually emerged as one of baseball's best stories in 2023. Ignited by the promotion of highly touted infield prospect Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati has won eight consecutive games to move within a half-game of the first-place Brewers in the NL Central.
Monday evening, the Reds took their feel-good 2023 to a new level.
Cincinnati reinstated first baseman Joey Votto from the 60-day injured list and inserted him into its lineup for the first time in 10 months. The 2010 NL MVP rewarded the Reds with a dramatic solo home run to give his team a 3–1 lead against the Rockies in the bottom of the fifth.
WELCOME BACK, JOEY VOTTO ‼️
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 20, 2023
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/dMZQ8JqNAU
Hardened by years of their team taking a tepid approach to winning, Cincinnati’s already excited fans promptly lost their minds.
JOEY VOTTO HITS A HOMER IN HIS FIRST GAME SINCE AUGUST OF 2023!
— Reds Daily (@RedsDaily4) June 20, 2023
I AM NOT OKAY!!! #Reds
pic.twitter.com/DuItDsfIBd
I SCREAMED & NOW I AM SOBBING!!! VOTTO STILL BANGS!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/jpeTZ5kELQ
— KP ★⁵ (@KaylaPaige9) June 20, 2023
Votto was recognized for having joined a unique club in the annals of baseball’s oldest team.
Joey Votto is the 12th Reds player to hit a home run at age 39 or older, joining:
— Matt Wilkes (@_MattWilkes) June 20, 2023
Jim Edmonds 🤢
Jeff Conine
Barry Larkin
Ken Griffey Sr.
Dave Concepcion
Tony Pérez
Pete Rose
Bob Thurman
Estel Crabtree
Jake Daubert
Billy Hoy
The Canadian slugger duly posed in the Reds' home run Viking helmet after hitting his dinger.
VIKING GOAT pic.twitter.com/nuIplHxja9
— Votto De La Cruz (@EvilJoeyVotto) June 20, 2023
All told, it was an auspicious return for Votto after a lengthy recovery from rotator cuff surgery in August 2022—one that presumably made at least one couple very happy.
votto is back 🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/x5wUVGoUlp
— cameron wesley 🎉 (@camiwami21) June 19, 2023
